Recoil-reducing and shot-patterncontrolling device for shotguns



A ril 5,1949.

D. T. ENNIS RECOIL'REDUCING AND sHoT PATTERN-CONTROLLING DEVICE FORSHOTGUNS Filed Nov. 6, 1 947 Darwin Tucker Ennis INVENTOR.

A Hume Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT Darwin Tucker Ennis,Las Vegas, Nev.

Application November 6, 1947, Serial No. 784,386

3 Claims. 42--79) This invention relates to a combination recoilreducingand shot pattern controlling device for shotguns, and contemplates aneflicient device of this kind adapted for attachment to a shotgunbarrel, which device will materially reduce recoil and will enable readycontrol of pattern.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the abovekind embodying a casing defining an. expansion chamber and provided atits outer end with gas discharge openings disposed substantiallyparallel with the axis of said chamber to facilitate the escape of gasfrom the latter instead of deflecting the gas laterally through sideopenings at a right angle to such axis.

Another object is to provide a device of the above kind including are-grouping member at the outer end of the expansion chamber casing forre-grouping the shot after passing through and spreading laterally insaid casing, and a fixed choke or pattern-control muzzle removablycoupled to the outer end of said re-grouping member so that any degreeof shot performance may be secured by readily substituting one choke orpattern-control muzzle for another whose bore has a differentrecompression taper.

The re-grouping member has an external annular flange at its inner endwhich is preferably integrally joined at its outer edge to the casingand which is provided with a circular series of the gas-escape openings.

The re-grouping member has a rearwardly enlarged rear mouth portionwhose sloping surface defines a compression chamber and merges with,

a substantially cylindrical front bore or throat conforming to thelargest desired shot pattern.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as other objects andfeatures thereof, will become apparent from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a recoil-reducing and shotpattern-controlling device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and applied to the barrel of a shotgun;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the major portion of thepresent device in central longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the removable choke orpattern-control muzzle; and

Figure 6 is an end elevation looking toward the right of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates a shotgun barrel havinga collar 6 suitably secured on the forward end thereof. The collar 6 hasan externally reduced and threaded forward end portion I onto which isscrewed the rear end of a cylindrical casing 3 that defines an expansionchamber 9 therein.

' A shot re-grouping member 10 is provided at the outer or front end ofthe casing 8, for regrouping the shot after passing through andspreading laterally in the chamber 9. This regrouping member has arearwardly enlarged rear mouth portion ll whose sloping surface definesa compression chamber and merges with a substantially cylindrical frontbore or throat l2 conforming to the largest desired shot pattern. Also,the re-grouping member H3 has an external annular flange 13 at its innerend which is preferably integrally joined at its outer edge to thecasing as shown, and which is provided with a circular series ofgas-escape openings M disposed substantially parallel with the axis ofchamber 9 to facilitate the escape of gas from the latter, instead ofdeflecting the gas laterally through side openings at a right angle tosuch axis.

A fixed choke or pattern-control muzzle I5 is removably coupled to theouter end of the regrouping member In, so that any degree of shotperformance may be secured by readily substituting one choke orpattern-contro1 muzzle for another whose bore has a differentrecompression. taper. The tapered bore of the choke or muzzle I5 isindicated at l6.

.Means is provided to facilitate quick attachment of thechoke or muzzlel5 to or removal. of the same from the re-grouping member and to rigidlylock said choke or muzzle in place so that a gas-tight joint betweensaid member and said muzzle is had. The outer surface of the re groupingmember in is screw-threaded to adjustably receive an internally threadedtubular coupling member IT. The front end of this coupling member has apair of. longitudinal slots 3 formed in its inner surface, which slotsterminate in an annular groove or channel l9. Near its inner or rearend, the choke or muzzle [5 has an external annular flange 20' servingas a stop against the outer end of the coupling member l1. At its inneror rear end, the choke or muzzle I5 is provided with a pair ofperipheral, outwardly projecting lugs 2] which are the counterpart, insize and spacing, of the longitudinal slots H3 in the coupling member I!and which are adapted to fit in the annular recess l9 thereof. Thisarrangement constitute-s, in effect, a pair of bayonet joints, wherebythe choke or muzzle !5 may be firmly locked on the outer end of there-grouping member ill, the joint between the adjacent ends of the partsl0 and I5 being made gas-tight by machining said ends and through themedium of screwing the coupling member ll onto the regrouping member I0as far as possible. In order to insure the proper positioning of thechoke or muzzle [5 relative to coupling member H, a pin 22 is extendedbetween and anchored in an end of each lug 2i and the flange 20, inposition to constitute a stop for the lug engageable with a side wall ofthe adjacent slot l8 as shown in Figure 4, thereby preventing excessiveturning of the choke or muzzle i relative to the coupling q member ll.It will be seen that, upon slight loosening or unscrewing of thecoupling meme ber 17, the choke or muzzle I5 is released so that. it maybe freely turned to register the lugs 2| with the slots 18 and tothereby permit ready re-' moval of the choke or muzzle. Conversely, thelugs 2! may be readily registered with and entered in the slots 18,whereupon the choke or muzzle it may be turned to the position of Figure4 to connect the choke or muzzle to the coupling member. The couplingmember may then be readily screwed further onto re-grouping member illand tightened so as to rigidly mount said choke or muzzle in place andto secure a gas-tight joint between the parts [0 and 15.

It will be noted that the inner end of the coupling member ll is taperedrearwardly as at 23 so as to deflect the gas forwardly and laterally asit emerges from the gas-escape openings Hi. This provides a slightchange in' course of the dis.- charged gases and offers littleresistance to dis charge of the same. I i

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction,operation and advantages of the present invention will be readilyunderstood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modificationsand changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fairlyfall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a recoil-reducing and shot pattern-controlling device forshotguns, a cylindrical casing adapted at its inner end for attachmentto a shotgun barrel and defining a cylindrical expansion chambertherein, a cylindrical shot re-grouping member carried by the outer endof the casing and having a rearwardly enlarged rear mouth portion forre-grouping a charge of shot after passing through and spreadinglaterally in said expansion chamber, said shot re-grouping member havinga threaded outer cylindrical surface for connection of a choketherewith, and an annular flange integrally connecting the inner end ofthe shot re-grouping member with the' outer end of the casing, saidflange having an annular series of small and closely related straightcylindrical gasescape openings therethrough disposed parallel with theaxis of said chamber, said openings being arranged in a circle outwardlyof and concentric with the cylindrical outer surface of saidshotre-grouping member.

2. In a recoil-reducing and shot pattern-controlling device forshotguns, a, shot re-grouping member, a fixed choke butted at butted endagainst an end of the shot re-grouping member, sa d choke being formednear said butted end withen external annular flange and at said one endin spaced relation to said flange with a. pinrality of peripheraloutwardly projecting lugs, and a coupling member provided at one endwith a plurality of slots in its inner surface terminatmg in an annulargroove and being the counterpart ofsaid lugs, said lugs and said slotsand groove providing a plurality of bayonet joints whereby the choke maybe quickly mounted on and removed from the outer end of. the shotregrouping member, said coupling vmember being adJustably fitted on saidshot re-grouping member totightly draw the choke against said shotregrouping member.

3. In a recoil-reducing and shot pattern-cone trolling device forshotguns, a shot re-grouping member, a fixed choke butted at one andagainst an end of the shot re-grouping member, a cou. plmgmemberadjustably threaded on said shot re-grouping member, and coactingelements on the adjacent ends of the choke and the coupling memberproviding a quick detachable connection therebetween, said couplingmember being adjustable to draw the choke tightly against said shotre-grouping member.

DARWIN, 'r. ENNIS.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are o'frecord in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

France Feb; 3, 1941 l

